Echeveria Topsy Turvy Care | Soil, Water, Light, Temperature, Fertilizer

Echeveria Topsy Turvy is a succulent type that requires bright light to thrive. This Topsy Turvy succulent has unique shape leaves that other variety which does not have. This plant has curved leaves. Like other succulents type, Echeveria topsy turvy care is minimal, but you should not forget it once you have planted the pot.

Echeveria Topsy Turvy grows around 8-12 inches tall and wide. It prefers sandy, rocky well-drain potting mixes that do not hold moisture for a longer time.

This is a semi-desert plant and is native to Mexico. Its leaves develop powdery blue-gray foliage. The powder on the leaves can be easily removed by water or touching the leaves. Therefore carefully handle the plant.

The topsy turvy succulent actively grows from spring to summer and dormant in winter. It is fast-growing succulent. This is a flowering succulent that produces orange and yellow flowers once a year from late summer to fall.

How to Care Echeveria Topsy Turvy Succulent.

Like other succulents types, it prefers bright light and drought-tolerant plants. Moreover, it can cold-hardy succulent. Therefore it requires very little daily maintenance.

Soil mixture for Outdoor Topsy Turvy.

The best potting mix should consist of around 60% of inorganic materials and 40% organic materials.

• Sand 40% – Gritty Mix, Coarse Sand, Granite Sands, Turface or Lava Rock (1/4 or 6mm or similar size) – 4 Parts.
• Potting mix 30% – Readymade succulent or a cactus potting mix – 3 parts.
• Perlite, Pumice 30% – Either one material to absorb moisture – 3 parts.

If you cannot easily find a succulent or cacti potting mix, you can use compost 60% with cocopeat 40%. The substrate is one of the crucial elements in Echeveria Topsy Turvy Care.

Soil mixture for Indoor Topsy Turvy Succulent.

When making indoor succulents potting, you have to use less moisture retention materials. The ideal mixture is fewer nutrients and high inorganic matters to improve drainage.

• Pine Bark 50% – The ideal size is 1/4 inch (6mm) size shredded barks – 5 parts.
• Sands 30% – Gritty mix, Coarse Sand, Granite sand, Turface, or Lava rock. – 3 parts.
• Perlite or Pumice 20% – Either one material – 2 parts,

Pine barks rich in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and other minor minerals essential for succulents to thrive. This material grate for plants that require acidic soil.

Watering.

Since Echeveria topsy turvy succulent is an arid climate plant, it likes to sit in a dry growing medium, between two watering potting mixes should completely dry.

Always check the surface and subsoil moisture level before water topsy turvy succulent. You can use either a dry stick or a moisture meter to check the soil’s wetness. For this, you can use my potting mix moisture checking guide.

The soak and dry method is a suitable watering method for Echeveria topsy turvy. However, on cooler days like winter, I do not recommend using this method. Instead, you can use a succulent squeezing bottle or tablespoon to water potted succulent plants.

When watering does not let touch leaves, it can easily wash away the waxy powdery coating. Also, this can lead to Echeveria topsy turvy leaves rot.

Light.

Echeveria topsy turvy is a bright light prefer succulent type. It prefers around 4 to 5 hours of partial to full sun. Especially it is better to provide bright morning light.

When growing indoors, better to move pots close to a bright window. In winter, topsy turvy require supplementary growing lights to thrive. When the plant receives enough bright light, it produces a more compact rosette and vibrant color.

Temperature.

Temperature is a more critical factor in Topsy Turvy care. It thrives ideally in a warmer climate. This a cold-hardy succulent that can tolerate cold. It can survive freezing at 25 °F (−3.9 °C).  When you are growing the plant outdoor, it is better to move the plant to a greenhouse or indoor spaces to provide enough temperature in the winter seasons.

Pots.

Echeveria topsy turvy does not have an extensive root bowl. Therefore shallow pots are suitable. Choose a succulent pot that is about 2 inches wider than the diameter of the plant and 3 or 4 inches deeper than the root system. You can read my succulent pot selection post for more details.

Fertilizer.

Generally, succulents are not heavy fertilizer feeders. Therefore from spring to early summer, you can apply slow releasing or liquid fertilizer. Balance fertilizer is the best option for Topsy Turvy succulents. Do not apply high nitrogen slow release granules.

Echeveria topsy turvy succulent actively grows from spring to summer and dormant in winter. Therefore do not apply fertilizer in inactive periods.

Propagation.

Echeveria topsy turvy propagation can be done either leaf, stem cuttings, divisions, or seeds. The best time to propagate succulents is its active growth period. Do not propagate in the dormant season. These inactive periods of plant growth dramatically reduce; therefore, there is less chance of success.

Leaves propagation: This is the easiest and simple propagate method for Echeveria topsy turvy. Choose a healthy and mature leaf. Twist the leaf from the stem. Then let it air dry for a couple of days ( 2 or 3 days). In these times, do not let the leaves expose dry air or sunlight.

During the air, dry times leave wounded areas to start to heal. This is essential to prevent rotting. On the second or third day, lay off the leaves on succulent potting soil and spray water. Generally, within 3 or 4 weeks, you can see tiny roots and leaves arising.

Divisions: When the plant getting matured, you can see small rosettes arising bottom of the stems. Once these rosettes grow, you can carefully remove them using a sterilized knife or scissors. Then plant it good drain succulent substrate.

Stem Cuttings: This propagation method can apply only to well-matured plants. When the plant is getting older, it has a laggy stem. Using a sterilized knife or scissors, sharply cut the stem and air dry for 2 or 3 days. Then directly plant on a succulent potting soil and water well., but do not overwater succulent.

Seeds propagation: This is somewhat harder. Once Topsy turvy succulent produce flower, it produces seeds. You can lay these seeds on a succulent potting medium and spray water. Within few weeks you can see small plants. When the small plant grows gradually, plant it in another pot.

Repot.

Annual repotting not necessary. In between 18 to 24 months, you have to repot Echeveria topsy turvy succulent plants. Once repotted, do not water and expose to full sun for a couple of days (2 to 3 days). Then gradually introduce partial to full sun. You can read the succulent repot post for more detail.